"Music for Quiet Listening"
Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
Preludes, Op. 32/5 & 23/6
Lilacs, Op. 21/5
Daisies, Op. 38/3
Leopold Godowsky (1870-1938)
Java Suite: Boro Budur in Moonlight
Hollis Kellogg (b. 1953)
Dance for a New House
David DeLucia (b. 1958)
Carol Ross' Rapture
Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983)
Three Sonatines
Maurice Ravel (1875-1938)
Adagio from Piano Concerto in G major
Franz Liszt/Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Widmung (Dedication)
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Benediction de Dieu dans la Solitude (from Harmonies Poetiques et
Religieuses)
David DeLucia, piano
Recorded Neighborhood Music School, New Haven, Ct., December 2003
Personal Label - 62:39

"More Music for Quiet Listening"
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (from Cantata No. 147 - transcribed by Myra
Hess)
Prelude in B minor (from Clavier Buchlein for W. F. Bach - transcribed by
Alexander Siloti)
David DeLucia (b. 1958)
Jubilant Jane and Her Adventures
Song for Michelle
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Reverie
Ballade
1st Arabesque
Hollis Kellogg (b. 1953)
Pandiatonic Piece No. 1
Howard Hanson (1896-1981)
Impromptu, Op. 19/1
Poemes Erotiques, nos. 1/2/4
Melodic Etude
Richard Rodgers (1902-1979)
Hello Young Lovers (transcribed by Stephen Hough)
The March of the Siamese Children (transcribed by Stephen Hough)
Charles Williams (1893-1978)
The Dream of Olwen
David DeLucia, piano
Recorded Neighborhood Music School, New Haven, Ct., November 2003
Personal Label - 67:15

I might as well start at the beginning.  I have received many discs over
the past few years from performers with their own personal labels.  With
little exception, I have not reviewed them because the level of artistry
and technical command was unable to drag me away from my normal review
regimen.

These two discs from David DeLucia are an entirely different matter.
His command of the piano's resources is quite impressive; I would have
liked a little greater fluidity in his trills, but the overall playing
is excellent indeed.  More important, he nails the emotional content of
each programmed work, resulting in my assessment that Mr.  DeLucia is a
prime-time pianist.

Who is this man?  David earned his Masters Degree in Education and 6th
year professional Certificate in School Psychology from the University
of Connecticut.  During his academic pursuits, David also found time to
perform and compose music, and he was a music critic for the Connecticut
Daily Campus newspaper.  He has written works for solo piano, chamber
ensemble, band, and orchestra.  David has also performed in public in
Connecticut and New York.

In addition to his musical and psychological pursuits, David has developed
an enviable set of gardens and greenhouse, growing over 1,500 varieties
of cacti, succulents, and orchids.  He reminds me some of my wife who
has an eclectic array of life activities, the opposite of my own preferred
route to zero in on a limited number of themes.  My wife also likes
David's music-making, commenting on the lovely tones and enchanting
atmospheres he projects.  To make it unanimous, my adult son Alexander
also praised David's performance of the Ravel transcription, and Alex
has never before said a good word concerning the music I listen to.

The titles of the two discs are not quite reflective of the musical
content.  First, some of the works are playful such as the premiere
recordings of Kellogg's "Dance for a New House" and the Sonatines by
Tailleferre.  Second, most of the remaining works, including David's
own "Carol Ross' Rapture", have a subtle rapture that he plays superbly.
Rapture means tension, so "quiet listening" doesn't begin to adequately
describe the intensity of the programmed music.  Personally, I would
prefer the title "Music for Lovers".

On the first disc, the piece that really makes me sit up in amazement
is Gustave Samazeuilh's piano transcription of the Adagio from Ravel's
Piano Concerto in G major.  Besides being one of the few transcriptions
that I treasure, David plays the work with great patience and love.
Actually, patience is one of the best aspects of David's playing on the
two discs.  So often, well-known pianists can't seem to stay in line
with the leisurely pacing of the music they play.  Not so with David,
as he seems born to play this type of music.

On the second disc, the three Debussy works are early pieces composed
before Debussy developed his own unique musical language most in evidence
in his Etudes.  Still, these are lovely works that David gives a delectable
treatment.  Also stunning is the Kellogg Pandiatonic Piece No.  1; not
having any key center, the music is allowed to float in an enchanting
dream-state.

I certainly don't want to neglect the three works composed by David,
each celebrating a member of the Neighborhood Music School.  Carol Ross
is the Vice President of the School, and her rapture is intense and and
beautiful.  "Song for Michelle" is an impressionistic gem celebrating
the School's program manager Michelle Maitland.  "Jubilant Jane and her
Adventures" represents the Director of Advancement Jane Christie who
must be a very enthusiastic individual.  The work has eight very short
sections as David has Jubilant Jane waking up - losing her dog - getting
her dog back - meeting a fairy princess - trying out the trampoline -
jumping rope - reading a sad story - and flying a kite.  My favorite
section is meeting the princess; this is poignant and gorgeous music.
After listening to the work, I wouldn't mind meeting Jubilant Jane myself.

Any complaints?  Just one - I would have liked a more alert presentation
of the Bach/Hess transcription, but that could well be my personal
reaction to solemnity.  Concerning sound quality, David's soundstage has
a deep resonance just right for the delicious music he plays.  Detail
is exquisite, and all musical lines are given distinction.

Don's Conclusions: Snuggle up to your lover and let the music work its
magic.  The results should be sublime, and David DeLucia is an excellent
proponent for the disc's themes.  I prefer "Music for Quiet Listening"
because I'm not a fan of Howard Hanson's music, and I would hate to be
without the Ravel Adagio.  That's just my subjective voice, and yours
might well veer toward the second disc.  Then again, pick up both of
them.  They are at budget price and available from http://cdbaby.com.
If you would like to contact David, his e-mail address is [log in to unmask]

Don Satz
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